Every year, musician's around the world are challenged to record a whole album, 10 songs or 35 minutes of music, within the span of the calendar's shortest month, February. It's not a contest. It's simply a creative exercise that attempts to give musicians the extra push they need toward the satisfaction of finishing an original work. Participants are encouraged to collaborate during the process and the fruits of their labors are ultimately synthesized here.
We found out about the challenge in 2008 when these two great local records came to our attention. We were inspired and signed up in 2009, along with a bunch of other local artists, to complete our own challenge. Some good material and some fun times came from the work, but ultimately the pressure got to us and we didn't make it to the finish line.
It feels somewhat like a day late and a dollar short, but we're trying again. Enter Florence and The Hendersons. This year we've set some strict guidelines for ourselves in hopes of dodging some of the pitfalls that got us last year.
1) The project will be centered around a 1970's Lowery Genie home organ that Dylan recently acquired. It has beats for days that just won't quit. Interesting fact: a Lowrey Organ, on a percussive "marimba repeat" setting - was the synthesizer-like background noise on The Who song "Baba O'Riley".
2) All of the tracking and mixing will be done on a Tascam DP-02 8-track. No computers with their endless supply tracks and effects to bog us down.
3) We'd need a good work space. So, we lugged the thing up three flights of stairs to SOT headquarters at Franklin's Tower where we're already comfortable and have drums, amps, and mics set to go.
4) Mitch will play all of the low notes with his paws on the Lowery's bass pedals. Sorry Mitch.
That just about does it. We're off to a solid start. You can follow along on our blog here.
As a side note...this is completely separate from the new Sea of Trees EP that I wrote about last time.
As a side side note...Sea of Trees will be playing at the Bayou's local original night this Thursday (2/11) at 10:30. Come early though, Hour of Need starts at 8 and the Blisterz go on at 9. It's free.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Florence and The Hendersons: an SOT RPM Challenge
Friday, January 15, 2010
New Year, New Songs, New Record.
So, it has been some time since we last spoke.
The holiday season was quiet, but Sea of Trees got started early in 2010 with a full weekend of tracking at Collar City Sound. The band worked around the clock from Friday to Sunday under the firm yet loving guidance of Seamus McNulty. We managed to get six songs fully tracked and the rough mixes are sounding great! The studio has all this wonderful old gear and things are sounding, in a word...WARM.
Justin followed us around all weekend with his video camera, being creepy. Watch for Dylan's big scene at 0:25 and my approving gaze at the end. Wow.
Oh, and by the way. We were honored to be on a couple local 'best of' lists for 2009.
Nippertown gave 'Animal Sounds' an honorable mention for its Top 10 albums of 2009.
And, the awesome local listener-supported radio station WEXT ranked 'Lemonvines' at #12 in its Top 50 Local 518 songs of 2009.
Thanks!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Rejoice!
This Friday (12/11) we'll be playing our final show for 2009 at Tess' Lark Tavern in Albany. Our good friend, the ever-present, Jared Funari will be joining us. Word is, he's been working on a new project called 'Jezebel's Encore' and plans to unveil some of that material this weekend. The collaboration fuzes the passionate and palpable vocal outpourings of Albany's Jah King with Funari's natural ability to evolve and layer music live through the use of looping.
Sadly, this will probably our last show for a few months. But don't fret! In fact, rejoice! We'll be using that time to get started on recording a new EP. And, we've enlisted the help of some real pros for this one! Our little hearts are fluttering.
Click Here for an interview I did awhile back with the good people at B3nson that spills a few details.
See you soon!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Halloween Freak-Out!, Update
So, this year, Sea of Trees is on top of their game. It's almost two weeks until Halloween and our costumes are just about complete. We had an epic costume making session yesterday and I realized that, though we're pretty good at music, we're REALLY good at arts and crafts. Get your hopes up, because it's gonna be awesome. And, if you can guess what we're gonna be from this picture, we'll give you anything you want. Anything at all. Hold us to it.
$5, Doors at 730, Costumes, Prizes, and musical performances by Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned, Sea of Trees, and Beware! the Other Head of Science.
RSVP on Facebook if you please.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
"There's Foam in Everything"
According to the sales rep at Albany Foam and Supply, there's foam in EVERYTHING! And, based on the size of this little-known treasure trove of foam right here in our backyards, I believe him.
We just made a pretty sizeable purchase ourselves. Halloween is coming down the pipe, and if it's anything like last year, the second annual Halloween Freak-Out is going to be a real extravaganza. That's all I'm allowed to say at this point. Well, it's on Halloween night at Valentine's with the beloved BEWARE! the Other Head of Science and Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned.
Last year, it looked like this...the audio's a little weird, but you get the point. SPOOOKY!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Franklin's Tower with We Are Jeneric, Matt Durfee
Consider this the Sea of Trees house warming party. We moved in a long time ago, but we’re just getting around to inviting all of our friends over for a party. Hope to see you there!
Here's some songs to get you in the mood.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Introducing...Alessandro Troiano!
If you were at our cd release party in April you saw Alex with us pounding a floor tom, building ridiculous cymbal swells, and blasting trumpet lines. Or, you might be familiar with Alex as the drummer for El Duke. Or maybe this is all totally new to you. Any which way, the good news is that Alex will be joining us as a bonafide 'sometimes-full-time' member. What will he play? Your guess is as good as mine, but you can be assured that it will be done with an unparalled flare.
We finally have some shows lined up too! There's some variety here so there should be a little something for everyone.
August 15 - Valentine's w/Todd is New Each Moment and Love for the Masses, 9PM
August 22 - Beat Shop. Browse the records while SOT plays every song they know and then some, 2-3 acoustic, 3:15-5 electric
September 12 - Franklin's Tower w/We Are Jeneric. SOT house warming party, 9pm
September 18 - Emack and Bolios (Uptown). Stop by for ice cream while SOT plays totally acoustic (no microphones), 7-10PM
And don't forget about the free live EP.
